Mandevilla plant named ‘Marilyn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Marilyn’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; strong stems; early and freely flowering habit; and large light red purple and light pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MARILYN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Marilyn’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new shrub-type Mandevillaplants with strong stems and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2006 ofMandevilla hybrida ‘Ginger’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,776, asthe female, or seed parent with Mandevilla hybrida ‘Audrey’, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,777, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newMandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales,Australia in November, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings inMacquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, since December, 2008 hasshown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Marilyn’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Marilyn’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Strong stems.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large light red purple and light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Ginger’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of‘Ginger’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Ginger’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Ginger’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Ginger’ have intense pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Audrey’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of‘Audrey’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Audrey’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Audrey’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Audrey’ have deep red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants ofMandevilla hybrida ‘Sunparaprero’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,399. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of‘Sunparaprero’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are shorter than plants of        ‘Sunparaprero’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of        ‘Sunparaprero’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunparaprero’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunparaprero’ have dark pink-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Marilyn’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Marilyn’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer with threeplants in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse inBonsall, Calif. under commercial production cultural practices. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32°C., night temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 18° C. and light levelsranged from 7,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one timeand were eight weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Marilyn’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Ginger’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,776.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Audrey’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,777.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, thick; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant            habit, slightly vining; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 26.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 27 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about four primary lateral branches per            plant; primary laterals with about three to four secondary            lateral branches each; pinching enhances lateral branch            development. Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 1.6 cm to 2 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; woody with development. Color,            young: Close to 146A. Color, woody: Close to N199A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146A; venation, close to 146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in            terminal and axillary clusters; flowers face mostly            outwardly; freely flowering habit, about five flowers            develop per cluster with about 40 flowers developing per            plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously            year-round in the greenhouse and outdoors in Southern Calif.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Funnelform with five-parted fused            corolla; flowers roughly star-shaped. Diameter: About            7.1 cm. Depth (length): About 6.8 cm. Throat diameter: About            1.4 cm. Tube length: About 6 cm. Tube diameter, at the base:            About 4 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 68A to 68B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement and appearance: Single whorl of five            petals, fused into flared trumpet; petals imbricate. Petal            lobe length: About 3.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm.            Petal lobe shape: Roughly ovate, asymmetrical. Petal apex:            Acute to acuminate; reflexing. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper            surface: Close to 63A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 63B to 63C. Petal lobe, fully opened,            upper surface: Towards the apex and margins, close to 63A;            center and towards the base, close to 68A to 68B; color does            not fade with development; venation, close to 63A. Petal            lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 59B with            occasional color breaks towards the apex, close to N155A;            venation, close to 59D. Throat: Close to 15A to 15B;            venation, close to 15B. Tube: Towards the apex, close to            63D; mid-section, close to 145C; towards the base, close to            145D; venation, close to 145C.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement and appearance: Five per flower fused in            a single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            inner surface: Close to 145C. Color, outer surface: Close to            145A to 145B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Aspect: About 45° from stem axis. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Aspect: About 30° from peduncle axis. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to            157B. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 1 cm by            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 161C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to NN155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.3 cm. Stigma shape:            Rounded; five-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style            length: About 2.1 cm. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary            color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Marilyn’ asillustrated and described.